‘Game of Thrones’: New TV Spots Promise an Epic Season 5

HBO’s runaway success Game of Thrones has diverged from the original A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin in the past – both in minimal and large ways (to both positive and negative reception from fans). However, the upcoming fifth season looks to be taking the series in a more different route than ever before.

The show is set to return this Sunday and will probably break some kinds of ratings records (if there are any left to break) – kicking off what looks to be the most expansive season the show has ever had. With the series venturing into Dorne for the first time, the introduction of the rest of House Martell, and more – season five of Game of Thrones might just end up taking the biggest risks yet, too.

In anticipation of the premiere in a few days, HBO has released three new TV spots for the upcoming season. The first (see above) is only 15 seconds long, but gives small glimpses into what looks to be Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke) new fighting ring possibly, but the rest is just short bursts of footage cut together – some that’s already been seen and some that’s new.

The second promo features a voice over from Jonathan Pryce’s High Sparrow, and the same cut-together editing of the first. However, there are some more teases of the conflict going on with Dany’s storyline this season – and a glimpse once again at Arya’s (Maisie Williams) mindset during her voyage to train with the Faceless Men of Braavos. The direction of Arya’s journey will most likely make it one of the more interesting storylines this season.

Even though Arya has remained mostly on the fringe of huge moments in each season (Outside the Red Wedding in Season 3) and been traveling through the country with The Hound (Rory McCann) up until the end of last season – her character’s arc has been one of the most entrancing to watch as she moves farther and farther away from the innocent girl audiences met in the first season. She closed out the end of last season’s finale as viewers saw her using her coin (given to her by the Faceless Man, Jaqen H’ghar in Season 2) to gain safe passage on a boat to Braavos.

It’ll be exciting for viewers to not only see more of this relatively unknown region (in the show, at least), but also to see what it’s like when Arya can finally create her own path for a change.

The third and final trailer, focuses mainly on Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish (Aidan Gillen) – the character who we found out last season was the real cause of everything that has happened in the series up to this point. Someone who is so smart and conniving that he’s managed to slip through all of the dangerous situations he’s been in and then promptly watch the repercussions of from the shadows. That proves once and for all: in Game of Thrones it’s the intelligent who are the most dangerous.

Despite all of Littlefinger’s attempts to manipulate and control Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) though, it seems like he may be the one being manipulated – as of right now that is. The spot, while it doesn’t do or show much, does give the vibe that Littlefinger may be trying desperately this season to try and convince Sansa to forget about what has happened so far, and why she needs to look forward.

Whether or not she does and this ends up working out for both characters will have to wait to be seen, but for now, the two may be in more fortunate positions than the other characters in the series.

Maisie Williams as Arya on ‘Game of Thrones’

At the beginning of this season, many of the characters are at a crossroads. Will Dany continue to rule as a queen in her conquered cities, or will she move on towards Westeros again? Will the Wildlings, the Nights Watch, and Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) be able to band together and prepare for the White Walkers beyond the wall, or will they fracture and fall?

All of this will soon be revealed when the season five premieres in just two days, but it looks like this might be the most game-changing collection of Game of Thrones episodesthat has been made yet.